New Boy In Town

[Martin Metcalf]

My names Martin, 39 years old and live in England.

Diagnosed with PTSD amongst other things, in 2005/6 after receiving a brain injury whilst in the Army. Im an EMT currently working for the NHS. I was a soldier 1990-96 and 2004-2007 with a couple of full time reserve stints for Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Outside the army I was a paramedic and now a lowly EMT unable to convert my previous registration.

Never really been out of uniform, life outside appears...odd.


My injury and the subsequent PTSD were received after being assaulted on camp whilst I was a member of the provost staff. No one has ever been caught or indicted for the crime. I was armed with a pistol - the pistol and my wallet were left so there was no robbery - I had made the welfare officer aware that senior NCOs were bullying junior soldiers and I did the right thing - I pointed the finger. This is thought to be the crux were I was 'hit'.

My previous service saw me in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Rwanda, Yugoslavia, Kosovo and Afghanistan were a lot of my 'problems' come from.

Flashbacks, anger, fear, vigilance, sleeplessness etc haunt me as well as sounds.

My physical injury, central pain syndrome caused by the brain trauma, doesn't help much.

 

[Wagon]

Welcome to THE site Themaadone. Much great info here and Vets to listen and talk to. The dialogues here help allot.

Wagon

 

[Martin Metcalf]

Thanks Wagon

 

[Jimmy1]

Yeah welcome mate, the more the merrier. We have a laugh and can also talk serious if you have any questions. Its one big disjointed family.

Have you been diagnosed with a TBI???

You will probably find you would have had PTSD with relation to your earlier service, but it just lies dormant hence the name 'Post'. The VA will try and link it to other things.

Thats just my opinion.

I basically started displaying symptoms of PTSD after service in East Timor in 2002, but they some how confused, anger outbursts, hypervigelence, anger problems, insomnia and other shit with Family Problems or a possible problem with my thyroid. f*ck me.

So I threw myself back in to work broke up with the ex wife numerous times and still cleared the medical to deploy to Iraq in 05. Coming home from there was a different story altogether. The VA here still tried to get out of paying by trying to link it to something stupid, but persistence and the right advice pays off.

Mate, I commend you for being able to work and save lives while suffering from the beast.

Rambling again.

 

[Fargo1]

Thermadone, welcome brother. Pull up a chair and read, read, read. You will find a bunch of really good, messed up folks here all helping each other out, venting, asking questions and just plain messing about. So vent away, ask away and let the healing begin!

Fargo

 

[abnvet]

Thermadone, welcome aboard!

 

[BV101]

Yeah. Hello. I'd offer some help, but I'm in the middle of looking for a pen. But its pretty much what they said. This site is very useful.

 

[deborah l. boylan]

Hello Thermaadone! We all struggle with the beast (PTSD). There is a lot of information here that can help you find your way. And if you need to talk, there are plenty of people who will listen and understand without judgement.

Deborah

 

[Misera1013]

Welcome! Glad to have you here. These are great people.